Top 10 Best TIG Welder Under $1000 of 2018

The metal you are welding gets heated by the tungsten electrode while Argon gas protects the weld puddle from airborne contaminants.

The welds produced through a TIG weld is cleaner with minimal smoke generation which is the biggest cause of its widespread acceptability in various fields ranging from experimental aircraft to sculpture designing and automobile manufacturing.

The welding machines are accompanied by a large array of accessories such as cables, TIG torch, foot pedals and many more.

Today we are going to discuss about some of the best TIG welders available in the market.

Now we are going to share some TIG welding tips which can have your back at all times:

TIG Welding Tips

Before proceeding with TIG welding, you need to make sure of the safety precautions in the form of necessary clothing and equipment such as approved safety glasses having side shields under your helmet, approved welding helmet which comes fitted with filter lenses for protecting your eyes and face while watching or welding, dry and hole-free insulating gloves and protective clothing crafted from flame-resistant and durable material.

The TIG torch needs to be held at an angle of 10 degrees or less as excessive torch angle can melt the rod by deflecting the heat before you can start working on the puddle. The tungsten should not come in direct contact with the work piece as it can contaminate your material making it necessary to regrind your tungsten.

Unlike other welding forms, TIG requires a clean slate to create nice welds and a clean arc. A dedicated stainless brush needs to be used exclusively for the type of metal you are infusing such as aluminium or steel.

You might be required to change your Tungsten depending on the surface you are working on. Green Tungstens are conventionally applied for aluminium while red are earmarked against steels. It is advisable to try out the conventional use of each before taking the ultimate call. It is also imperative to proceed with the right Tungsten thickness since it can warp or burn the work-piece when excessive heat is inflicted for striking an arc for a large Tungsten. Similarly, a small Tungsten stands at heightened risk of being damaged from overheating.

Once you gain control over foot pedalling, you can regulate the heat level for increasing and decreasing the weld puddle in accordance with your requirements. Ideally your weld puddle needs to have a thickness of ¼ inches. Puddle size should be kept constant so that it doesn’t shrink, grow, narrow or spread while you are welding.

Filler metal needs to rest horizontally at 15-degree angle from the work piece. The base metal should be heated up and filler should be dabbed gently into the puddle so that you don’t leave large deposits.

This high-quality machine combines the functionality and performance levels of a professional equipment without crossing over the affordability parameter.

Part time welders, amateurs and professionals can weld thin materials such as 3/8 inches of steel and ¼ inches aluminium using this AHP model.

Coupled with state-of-art pulse width modulation and inverter technology, the TIG welder can perform brilliantly on projects where having a high degree of accuracy is of paramount importance.

The IGBT technology of the Alpha TIG 200X converts power to high voltage output for being stored and used later on. Compared to its peers, the AHP welder provides better control over functional parameters.

Weighing at just 28 pounds, the Alpha 200X can be carried around without breaking any sweat. Its flexible handle and sturdy body imparts greater mobility and convenience in a user-friendly way.

Standard button controls have been replaced by knobs and rows which come clearly labelled to avoid confusion.

You can exercise complete control over the welder with its foot pedal which ensures safety by freeing up your hands.

CONS:

Just as the name suggests, Amico brings supreme versatility to the table by Stick, Arc and TIG Torch welding in this portable model.

Coupled with such attributes, it serves as a tailor-made fit for light industrial work, maintenance, repairing and general fabrication. Dual voltage system helps in using the machine both on 110V and 220V of power while an output of 200 amps is provided by the stick.

Pre-flow, post-flow, amps and clearance can be set for benefitting out of perfect and effective welding. IGBT inverter technology enhances the portability of the machine by imparting supreme convenience and usability.

CONS:

If you are searching for a professional level DC TIG/ Stick welder, then your search is bound to come to a halt once you come across the Everlast Power i-TIG 201 which offers state-of-art features at an affordable rate.

The unit offers both lift start capability and high frequency start thus competing with contemporaries such as Maxstar and Invertec at a fraction of the cost.

Coupled with such attributes, this unit has found a ready market amongst professionals engaged in specialty trades where heat control has a pivotal role to play in determining the effectivity of the final output such as stainless fab shops, gun smithery and many more.

Its pulse feature and low amp start capability of just 5 amps’ aid in controlling the heat with extreme precision.

In spite of retaining the analog feel of its predecessor, the Everlast i-TIG 201 also incorporates digital controls to simplify the play design and internal plug which ensures greater reliability.

PROS:

CONS:

4. Forney 324 190-Amp MIG/Stick/TIG Multi-Process Welder

This DC-only TIG welder can take on flux-cored or gas MIG welding as well as TIG and Stick welding although it cannot be used for welding aluminium.

Setting it up is an extremely easy task as it accepts spool sizes of both 4 and 8 inches having acceptable wire diameters ranging up to .035.

Its duty cycle of 20% can help you in getting a good bead coupled with the welder especially when using the MIG settings.

A ground clamp and stinger can be found for stick set up whereby you can weld electrodes up to 5/32”. Its digital readout makes it easy to gauge the actual arc voltage and value of output current for precise management of functions and data.

Most of the torch issues faced by users are also bound to get alleviated with the euro-connect feature which aids in switching quickly between long and short torches for easy repair and maintenance.

The wire feeder can also be expected to last longer coupled with its cast aluminium drive system having replaceable parts and upper geared idler for feeding the wire better.

PROS:

15 feet long power cord works pretty well without the requirement of an extension cord.

As one of the smallest and lightest TIG welders of its class, Everlast PowerTIG has already garnered a potent user base as it packs in surprising number of features in its tiny frame.

This welding machine can guard your back at all times irrespective of the job or power source you are dealing with. The PowerTIG delights with a superb duty cycle which is way ahead of its contemporaries.

It’s simple design and user-friendly interface caters to the requirement of amateur welders without compromising on its functionalities.

It comes out of the box coupled with a 110V adapter and 220V plug both of which guarantee smooth and controlled performance at all times.

With 35% duty cycle at maximum power, the Everlast welder bring along more actual working hours and less downtime. You can opt for its high-frequency start process to keep the tungsten free from contamination which is an absolute must for aluminium welding.

With wide range of AC frequency, the Everlast 185 paves the way for predictable welds whether it is operating at its maximum capacity or at low amperes.

You can exercise absolute control over the settings given the clear readouts and simple operation.

A steady directional arc is delivered by the digitally controlled inverted of the unit which also comes equipped with pre-and post-flow gas controls thus reducing gas wastage and simplifying the setup process.

It has also found widespread usage in traditional electric welding. The 14.5-pound welder is accompanied by an electrode holder, work clamp, TIG torch gun, transfer plug and two pieces of Tungsten measuring 1/16 inch.

PROS:

Lightweight welder having adequate power to cater to your work requirements.

Smooth arc performance.

Ample tech support.

Welds stick nicely and offers great penetration capacities on 110V.

CONS:

Featuring a high frequency start, the professional TIG welder can work on ¼ inch thick steel. This DC stick welder having some TIG accessories requires Argon gas for carrying out TIG welding having a thickness of 0.3-5.0mm.

It is imperative to note here that the welder does not come with a regulator or flow meter which requires to be bought separately. There is a place for hooking up your argon gas but it will remain unregulated unless you purchase a separate regulator or flow meter.

In spite of being a premium grade welder, it might start showing signs of weakness if used in extreme environments or bounced around in the backseat of a pickup van.

CONS:

Amico has been delivering top-notch welding machines for quite some time now and the TIG-205 stands no different to this general phenomenon.

This multi-functional welder supports high-frequency Stick, TIG and ARC welding. Some other attributes which have added to its popularity are HF Start-easy arc, LCD amperage display and easy operation.

CONS:

The compactly build TIG140 is an inverter lift start welder which has already won accolades for its efficiency and portability.

Weighing at less than 12 pounds, this ultra-portable welder can run directly on 220 V 50/60 Hz power, or 110 V 50/60 Hz using a pigtail.

You can easily carry it along to your repair site thus saving time which would have otherwise been spent on transporting heavy gears to your workstation.

The top handle crafted using durable plastic adds to its portability since it can be carried around in a convenient fashion. Its tungsten gas capability provides the requisite level of accuracy for finishing the surface work precisely.

In this way, you can exercise control over the quantum of heat generated and in turn the quality of your work.

You can also be free of worries regarding spark or splatter while using the filler rod which does not emit any gas or fumes thus keeping the surface free from contaminants and dirt.

It is packed along with a stinger, TIG torch, conversion plug, clamps, collets, mask and a chipping hammer.

Supporting the welding of all ferrous metals such as stainless steel, thin steel, copper and other metals, the TIG 140 uses DC power course and is recommended for 110 volts.

For standard usage, this welder does not compromise on durability. It features an adjustable dual frequency control ranging from 50 – 60Hz and a duty cycle of 35% at 100 Amps.

CONS:

You can facilitate easy welding works coupled with the Amico TIG-165 welder which can handle stick, TIG and Arc welding.

This multi functional welder can take on 3/8 inch of alloy steel, stainless steel, copper cast iron, mild steel and chrome. Post-weld clean-up and splatter become almost non-existent with the Amico model which has been engineered to deliver flawless weld time and again.

The 115V/230V dual voltage input of this TIG welder ensures that it can be plugged into common sources of power supply.

15-160 amps of power is perfect for welding super-thin materials with utmost precision. Such attributes wrapped in a lightweight build has helped the Amico TIG welder in becoming a reliable work tool for both personal and professional use.

Protection offered by the device against voltage fluctuation help in maintaining its longevity while automatic temperature control feature eases out its application.

PROS:

Comes with a TIG gun.

Offers high-frequency start.

CONS:

Conclusion

Your ultimate purchase decision will be influenced by the type of work you wish to perform. The machine’s power can be calculated from its duty cycle provided at a specific voltage and for a defined time span.

Amperage also has a crucial role to play in proceeding with the selection process. Machines offering amperage ranging from 5-250 can take up the welding of thinner materials such as ¼ inch aluminium and 24-gauge stainless steel.

The amount of applications served by the welder holds a directly proportional relationship with the width of the amperage. Thus, the requirement of owning a different welding machine gets nullified with TIG welders having wider amperage range.

Welding machines which offer both DC/AC voltages shall be preferred if you wish to repair both soft and hard metals.

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